Salt MInes...

The end of the week was like a viewing of a train wreck on the news (you know the whole saying and how it goes...) Well anyway, it was interesting to say the least. Thursday, I came to notice that I hate the beginning of the day when we have to pick up the kids from school the worst. For one, since we lost one of our bus drivers we have to sit at the school for a whole hour or more with 30+ kids antzy and craving activeness of some sort while us counselors are trying to keep track of all of them in an open location at the same time trying not to draw attention to us and the unruly children we are "watching" from other teachers and administrators.
Well, there's one child that particularly likes to push my buttons. I don't get it, if it's experience or just a tone in their voice, but other counselors do not seem to have as much trouble as I do with the "wild bunch" of the lot. Well this child, I'll call him Loki, likes to see how far he can go and I swear he loves to argue with me. I'm sure he'l make a lot of money as a lawyer if someone doesn't strangle him before the age of 11. Well Thursday seemed like any other da waiting for the bus, Ms. S had them by the playground at the school playing silent speed ball when she tolled Loki to "Go sit down!" I watched come over, and I thought he was doing as she asked so I turned to glance at other children playing. The next thing I know, Loki is up and running around with a giant Tubberwear lid and running back towards the playground. I yelled "Loki give me the lid and please have a seat." With a smirk on his ugly child face and squinted eyes he shook his head no, almost shaking off his backwards Hurley hat on the ground. "What do you mean 'No'? I asked you to sit down now go sit down."  grabbed the lid and he struggled a bit but let go then took off towards Ms. S and the playground. "Loki I thought I told you to sit down. Go." Yelled Ms. S. "Loki come here and sit down." I echoed her frustration. "O, just call his mom. Her numbers on the clip-board." Ms. S casually called to me audible enough for Loki to hear. A sudden aura of amazement came across me, at the same time as a sudden 'Oh Shit" look flooded onto Loki's. I was overwhelmed with a break-through of Yes! I forgot...at one (well a couple) touch we can control their behavior with a threatening call to the parent. I go the clip board and started looking for the form with his parent's number on it. He came over to me and with a hint of hatred and matter-of-fact tone in his voice said, "You're a mean counselor." "How am I mean?" "Because you are. You're bad." "Oh because I asked you to do something and you didn't do it? Because you don't listen?" "You're just mean and a bad counselor." "Please tell me how I'm mean." A that moment a sudden and abrupt, forceful "SIT DOWN" interrupted our argument from Ms. S. At that moment I knew I made a crucial mistake...getting into an argument with a nine year old. I probably played right into his little trap of trying to get me flustered. I suppose kids at that age would say anything to get out of trouble and a little prick-headed pain in the ass delinquent and future prison 'bitch' like this kid would say something cold-hearted and mean instead of something like "oh I'm sorry I won't do it again" that I usually get. So I continued to fumble through the pages while I watched him take a seat on the wall and put his opened backpack over his head. I found the number and weighed the options to myself. Do I call, or do I fake call and let him suffer all day wondering what awaits him at home? Do I want to use a phone call home on something as meaningless as not listening and driving me crazy? Or should I save it for something like killing bunny rabbits and kicking puppies? 
So I decided to make the fake call. I got out my cell phone and while glancing at the paper typed the number in my phone and placing the phantom call. I stood up with the phone to my ear and paced back and forth to make the gesture that much more believable. When I saw Loki was staring at me anymore I put the cell phone and away and went about my duties. Force unruly child into seclusion with threat phone call to parent/guardian...check. I must say I was rather please with myself on how that all played out. Ms. S came over and jokingly asked "Is he trying to commit suicide?" With a quick glance in Loki's direction who still had his head emerged in his backpack. "I 'spose he thinks it's the best way to go." We both chuckled and I informed her of my fake calling abilities. Then a sudden realization came upon me. How many times can I fake call a parent before the child catches on and realizes they're being duped? Loki's going to know that I didn't call his mom as soon as she comes to get him later today. At that moment, as with many other moments, I knew I had to find a way of controlling these kids without getting an instant migraine and grabbing for my precious hair. Something I'll have to work on.
Well the day continued with bits of fury and anguish, kids being misbehaving, unruly (my favorite to describe them) lying little brats. But somehow you get through the day and for some reason you come back. I feel I've notice that why I haven;t quit yet or actually look forward to work is because it certainly is not boring. It may be a struggle every once and again, but not nearly as hard as landscaping and it's more fun and interesting far beyond the mundane typical ass treatment you get as a sales clerk or manager of a ski shop. It's not too bad, especially now that I've warmed up to some of the other counselors and they've embraced me a lot better these days, well most of them anyway.
But back to the other drama...the day is going on  but then all of a sudden as I'm walking the kids out to the playground Ms. S comes up the hall all flustered and a "bitch"look on her face and chip on her shoulder muttered something along the lines of "this is bullshit, I'm out of here." I was on the walkie and not really paying attention, but was still caught off guard by her  attitude. I turned and was like "What?" she kept walking so I didn't think much of it until I got out to the playground where someone said "S just quit." Whhhaaaaaa?! why? I instantly remembered the packed with myself and not indulging on gossip and drama, so I clammed up and tried to go about my business. Mr. T came out and I had to asked, "What's up with S?" "I donno...there's always so much drama...'always drama in the LBC. It's hard being Snoop D-O_ double G...'" I chimed in with the rest of the rap as we chuckled. What I love about guys they turn the drama right around to something comical...for the most part. So I let it go at that point and figured Yeah...cheerleader girl drama. Not my style.
As I showed up to work the next day for another shift in the dungeon and as I was grabbing my whip and torch (hehe) I wasn't bit surprised to see Ms. S walk through the doors in her normal spirits of "I rule this place"I gathered bits and pieces of what went down the previous day with tales of dropping the F-bomb in front of the boss in a criticizing demeanor; the boss calling her at home; saying "I'm getting so trashed! It's gonna be awesome" but then not following through, so I understood at that point that perhaps Ms. S is a lot of talk, though she did have the guts to walked out...for a brief stint but returned a few minutes later after cooling down and the the next day. Granted she did in fact put in her 2 weeks so I notice so I suppose it wouldn't have mattered too much in the long run, but perhaps she was going for a more dramatic exit this time; seeing as how this isn't the first or even second time she's quit at this place. Well the ended with me in a headache of course, dreading the instant the next child would try to defy my authority especially since I was left up front at the end of the day with the boss standing 10 feet from me no doubt watching my every move. Until she muttered those heavenly chocolate-like words of "O. You can go ahead and go." Acting concerned and pleasurable I said "Are ya sure?" "Yeah go ahead." "Ok" SEE YA!
I stepped out with  strut in my step as I headed to the my 3rd workout of the day (surfing and battling children 1 & 2 respectively). Aw man...It's Friday. But I still can't deny the growing threat in the back of my mind. T is leaving in a week or two and S is leaving too. This means that at some point in the near future I am going to be alone with these children undoubtedly trying to manage them myself or with someone new...ouch. Oh child care how it solves so much...for the parent of unruly children...